Sled Dog Ride Tour | Meet on Location

Come along on a thrilling dog sled ride through the beautiful Icelandic countryside. Spend an hour racing across the landscape and cuddling up with these cute creatures. This tour is perfect for those eager to spice up their vacation with a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

A short drive from Reykjavík city is the farm where you’ll get to meet the dogs and your musher. A musher is the dog sled operator; the word derives from the French word ‘Marche’ meaning ‘go’ or ‘run’, which is what mushers used to yell to make the dogs run faster.

The musher will share with you their passion of dog sledding and how they take care of these incredible creatures. They will also tell you everything there is to know about the dogs, the sled, the history and the environment around.

You will then get to meet the friendly dogs. The pack is mostly comprised of Greenland dogs, an ancient breed used by the Inuit people of Greenland to pull dog sleds and hunt for seals and polar bears.

In the pack, you’ll also find both Siberian and Alaskan huskies. This diverse combination of breeds gives the guests a well-rounded introduction to the world of sled dogs.

You will then mount the sled and whizz across the scenic countryside. Should you be travelling in the summertime or if the unpredictable weather is acting up and there is no snow, don’t worry. The musher will slap on a couple of wheels, and you've got yourself a dog cart. Snow or no snow, you will still be able to race around and have fun.

Halfway through your journey you will make a short stop so that you can enjoy the nature, take some great photos and give the dogs a good belly rub.

Don’t miss out on a unique and first-hand introduction to Iceland with the help of Greenland dogs. Check availability by choosing a date.

Please note that the price shown in the booking system updates once you have selected the date. The transfer service is included in this tour.

Quick facts

Tour information:

Available: All year

Duration:
1 hour

Activities:
Dog sledding

Difficulty:
Moderate

Minimum age:
6 years.

Languages:
English

Highlights:

South Iceland is the most popular part of the country amongst travellers and contains some of Iceland’s most beautiful natural attractions.

The south of Iceland can be roughly split into two areas, the lowlands in the west, and the east.

The South Icelandic lowlands

The South Icelandic lowlands stretch nearly 100 kilometres (over sixty miles) from Hellisheiði in the west to Eyjafjallajökull in the east. This region is flat and fertile farming land, and home to many Icelandic horses and sheep.

The whole area is geologically very young, formed during the last Ice Age by the lava flows from numerous volcanoes in the area. The lowlands are surrounded by volcanically active mountains, notably the aforementioned Eyjafjallajökull and Hekla.

The most notable features of the South Icelandic lowlands are the three on the Golden Circle, the country’s most popular sightseeing route.

The fissures and lava landscapes of this latter feature reveal the extent to which earthquakes and eruptions have shaped the region. The area is still very active; take, for example, the 1975 eruption in the Westman Islands that nearly destroyed the town and formed a new island.

It should be noted that Þingvellir is not just a site of natural, geological wonder. It was also the original site of the parliament Icelanders formed in 930 AD. This was a convenient place, considering the fertile lands of south Iceland meant that many settlers populated it.

Unlike most early Icelandic settlements, few of the communities formed in the south were based off fishing. The only town with a significant harbour in the south is Þorlákshöfn, where the ferry to the Westman Islands leaves.

In terms of culture in the lowlands, it was once home to the ancient bishop seat of Skálholt. Also, Iceland's most famous saga, Njal's Saga, takes place in the region.

For sports, horse riding is popular, as is fishing for salmon and trout, hiking, snorkelling, sightseeing and river rafting.

Eastern South Iceland.

The areas south and east of Mýrdalsjökull, the glacier that covers the volcano Katla, are considered the eastern part of south Iceland. Glaciers, volcanoes and the Highlands dominate the view.

This landscape has also been shaped by volcanic eruptions, although these were much more recent, and thus the area looks dramatically different. Vast expanses of black sand stretch from the Highlands to the sea, part of several glacial outwash plains that flood during a volcanic eruption.

Some agriculture is found here, with farms nestled in the mountains, but because of the glacial floods, they are few and far between.

A few large glacial rivers flow through this area, creating incredible features such as Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. These are hardly the only sites in this part of the south worth seeing, however.

Sólheimajokull is a beautiful outlet glacier, a tongue of the greater Mýrdalsjökull, that you can hike on so long as you are with a guide. Skógar has a very interesting museum that discusses national traditions during Iceland’s development. One of Iceland’s most famous hiking routes, Fímmvörðuháls, cuts through the area.

Southwest of the village of Vík is one of Iceland’s most spectacular beaches, Reynisfjara. Near the promontory of Dýrholaey, and boasting incredible views of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, it is a marvellous stretch of black sand.

You meet your guide at the departure location.
Please note that this tour operates from different locations. All easily accessible from Reykjavík You will receive on your voucher a link to a page with the exact location and directions of how to get there.

Included:

Thermal suit or rain suit & gloves (if needed)

Meals and refreshments

What to bring:

Warm outdoor clothing (dress in layers)

Good hiking shoes

Sunglasses are recommended

Camera

Good to know:

Please note that you must weigh 95 kg or less and be physically fit for this tour (BMI lower than 30). It is also not suitable for pregnant women.

To get to the farm in the winter, a 4x4 vehicle is recommended during wintertime.

The Icelandic weather is unpredictable. Snow cannot be guaranteed. In the case of no snow, the tour will operate on dry land, using a cart with wheels.

Please note that this tour operates from different locations, all depending on Mother Nature. You will be contacted by the provider with the exact location and directions of how to get there prior to your tour.

Important automated messages regarding your tour and the tour location is sent prior to your excursion, so remember to check your spam folder.

Reviews

Otto Young

Genuinely couldn't have had a better time! The tour guides were incredibly friendly and so passionate about their huskies. Meeting the beautiful huskies was unforgettable and then going for a ride was equally enjoyable! Cannot recommend this tour enough, if you love dogs and adventures this is perfect for you.

Rob

This tour was awesome! It was exactly what we pictured when we heard dog sledding was available. Riding the sled was incredible, but so was learning about the entire experience. Our tour guide Paulina was enthusiastic and taught us so much, and she has such a great relationship with every dog. They loved the experience too, and interacting with them was great. I’d highly recommend this tour.

Cindy OSTORERO

Janine Knott

Awesome experience, recommend as was the highlight of our holiday and so enjoyable

Dominique Wever

Amazing experience and would definitely recommend! The mushers are great and the dogs are the absolute best!!! Definitely worthwhile.

Bam Dhadasih

A very lovable experience with the huskies! Truly an enjoyable ride. Also, the mushers were really nice, highly recommend this to anyone, especially dog lovers! :D

Olivia Shy

Love it! Love it! And love it! Dogs are super friendly and cute! they love to run and each has own personalities. Guides were telling us cute stories and facts. Amazing.

Suzanna Keklikian

Such an amazing experience oh my god!!! Dress very warm. The doggies are soooo cute and adorable and friendly. Beautiful! Guides were amazing, too! I loved our specific guide, Klara.

Reserve this tour

Continue to reserve a spot on this trip. You can contact us any time to change your booking. Choose a date to find availability and see prices

Departure time

From:
Please note that this tour operates from different locations. All easily accessible from Reykjavík You will receive on your voucher a link to a page with the exact location and directions of how to get there.